Bio

Ondrej Pavelec Bio

In many ways, Pavelec is not a conventional goaltender.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Pavelec often uses the butterfly style and blocks much of the net with his big body. But he also has uncommon agility and quick reflexes for a man of his size; in one motion he can pop up to a standing position from having both knees on the ice.

In many ways, Pavelec is not a conventional goaltender.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Pavelec often uses the butterfly style and blocks much of the net with his big body. But he also has uncommon agility and quick reflexes for a man of his size; in one motion he can pop up to a standing position from having both knees on the ice.

A second-round pick (No. 41) by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2005 NHL Draft, Pavelec has been busy. Over a three-season period from 2011-12 to 2013-14, Pavelec played 169 games, second only to Antti Niemi (175) among goalies.

Pavelec, who played two seasons of junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League after being drafted, made his NHL debut with Atlanta on Oct. 20, 2007, in relief of Johan Hedberg, in a 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He won his first NHL start, stopping 30 of 34 shots in a 6-4 win against the Lightning on Nov. 3, 2007.

A full-time NHL player for the first time, Pavelec started 40 games during the 2009-10 season. His rookie season included a 50-save performance in a 3-1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 31, 2009, and his first NHL shutout, when he stopped 38 shots in a 7-0 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 13, 2009.

Pavelec was involved in a scary incident on Oct. 8, 2010, when he collapsed less than three minutes into Atlanta's season-opener against the Washington Capitals. Pavelec was taken off the ice on a stretcher and spent three nights in the hospital before tests determined he had a fainting spell. The goalie returned on Oct. 30, 2010, and the next month set a franchise record with six straight wins, from Nov. 19-30, 2010.

The franchise moved to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season, when Pavelec ranked fifth in the NHL in shots against and saves. In 2013-14, he finished second in the NHL in shots against (1,251) and saves (1,132) and moved into first place on the franchise wins list with 95.

From April 6-9, 2015, Pavelec recorded three straight shutouts to claim the franchise record in that category as well. That run extended his streak to 187:05 without a goal against and capped a 12-game stretch in which Pavelec went 9-2-1 with a .949 save percentage.

The strong finish helped the Jets reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the franchise relocated to Winnipeg. In his first playoff action, Pavelec started all four games of Winnipeg's first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

QMJHL All-Rookie Team (2006)

QMJHL First All-Star Team (2006, 2007)

QMJHL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2006)

Transferred to Winnipeg after Atlanta franchise relocated, June 21, 2011.

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